Seasoned strategic development consultant Alexander "Alex" Mosnick serves as a strategy consultant at Aon PLC, an insurance brokerage company in Chicago, Illinois. His responsibilities include managing the company's management teams on strategic initiatives, such as insurance product development and entering into new insurance markets. A member of Toastmasters International since 2016, Alexander Mosnick has, so far, delivered five speeches on various topics with emphasis on public speaking skills, effective communication, and body movements.
Toastmasters International is a worldwide educational organization dedicated to teaching public speaking and leadership skills and helping people become more confident public speakers, communicators, and leaders. This year, Toastmasters International celebrates the 50th year when membership was opened to women, an important milestone in the organization's rich history.
When Toastmasters International was established in 1924, membership was open to men only. In the 1930s, however, some women formed a parallel but independent organization named International Toastmasters Club. Its members identified themselves as "wives and sweethearts" of Toastmasters International members. Later in the 1960s, Toastmasters International clubs were allowed to form women's auxiliary clubs. Others were allowed to recognize women as "honorary members."
Helen Blanchard is considered the trailblazer for women's membership in Toastmasters International. She has been attending Toastmasters International since 1970. When urged by other members to apply for membership, Blanchard used the name "Homer Blanchard" to disguise her gender. Three years later, in 1973, Toastmasters International formally opened its membership to women. Blanchard need not hide her real identity. She served as Toastmasters International's international president in 1985.
One of the benefits of admitting women into the organization was the sudden increase in membership. In 10 years, membership in Toastmasters International has doubled.
